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| ORGANISATION: | CARE INTERNATIONAL UK |
| AREA: | 3 PROVINCES: ODDAR MEANCHEY, KOH KONG & BANTEAY MEANCHEY |
| GRANT PERIOD: | 2004 - 2007 |
| BENEFICIARIES: | 800 FEMALE & MALE SEX WORKERS |
EJAF has funded the SAFE project to support and empower sex workers in three high-prevalence rural provinces on the Cambodian-Thai border. It has three main objectives:
Firstly, to implement a HIV/AIDS risk reduction strategy for sex workers and the general population. The programme has trained and supported 75 sex workers as peer educators who have reached more than 4,000 people with HIV/AIDS & STI prevention information and condom negotiation skills training. This has also raised the profile of these sex workers within their communities and helped reduce stigma towards them.
Secondly, to educate and empower sex workers to advocate for their needs and make informed decisions. This included providing literacy and vocational skills courses, which resulted in 23 sex workers starting small businesses or moving into other employment. The programme also sought to develop leadership and encourage participation in provincial advocacy initiatives. 6 community assistants were trained to become the voice of sex workers at provincial meetings, they also advocate for the rights of those not able to speak out, including reporting instances of sex trafficking.
Thirdly, to participate in national advocacy work on sex worker rights & HIV/AIDS policy. A number of the female sex workers have become involved with a national grassroots sex worker body and one of the male sex workers has gone on to become the coordinator of the National men who have sex with men (MSM) Network.
Despite these successes, sex workers continue to be an extremely stigmatised and vulnerable group, at high levels of HIV risk through their work & through abuse by uniformed personnel in particular. More work needs to be done to further empower and assert the rights of this community.